The 122,000-tonnes ship "Celebrity Eclipse" will sail to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The move by the premium arm of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines will pitch the new vessel up against P&O Cruises' Azura, which also enters service from Southampton in summer 2010. The deployment of the third in a series of also represents a huge vote of confidence from the US cruise giant in the UK cruise market. The line said it anticipated its largest growth will come from the UK over the next few years.

Celebrity Eclipse, due to be the third in a series of five Solstice-class vessels, will be launched in Southampton in a showcase to UK and Ireland consumers and trade partners over a week-long event. The cruises will go on sale during the first week of March 2009 when prices will be detailed.

President and CEO Dan Hanrahan said: "Celebrity Cruises has enjoyed a strong relationship with the UK and Ireland market and experienced steadily increasing guest numbers in recent years. "Investing in the future of that relationship with Celebrity Eclipse homeporting from Southampton is an exciting development for our business. In 2009 we have the huge opportunity of the two newest ships from Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox - based in Europe. This increases in 2010 as Celebrity Eclipse leads the charge to further maximise the potential of the UK and Ireland market.”

Robin Shaw, vice president and managing director, Celebrity Cruises, UK and Ireland, added: “The UK and Ireland remains one of the fastest growing cruise markets in the world. "Having the newest Celebrity Cruises ship based out of Southampton in 2010, and dedicated to the UK and Ireland, offers a fresh and contemporary alternative to traditional players. Celebrity Eclipse will set new standards in the large ship luxury market and clearly show the ongoing and industry leading commitment of Celebrity Cruises to the UK and Ireland travel industry.”

Celebrity Eclipse will be the third Solstice-class ship alongside Celebrity Equinox which is to launch in July 2009 in Southampton, and then sail from Rome (Civitavecchia). The UK deployment was announced on board Celebrity Solstice, the first ship in the series, during inaugural celebrations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.